Computer is very slow recently, tried virus scan, reinstalling, checking disk and CCleaner

[miker2808]

Hello.
Recently my PC started to slow down pretty much.
when I'm turning on the PC. it takes few very long minutes to startup and then laggs in attempts to do anything. (it delays anything I type, for example it takes some time to show the password or username i'm writing when attempting to login into windows)
I've tried reinstalling the windows (using the win10 method, since I do not have the disk [windows is genunine from windows 7]), running malware bytes from safemod, using CCleaner, and the disk check for errors. yet I got nothing.
I believe this is my HDD dying. but currently I'm very limited on money and wouldn't want to buy it without a serious need for it.
If any computer specialist could help me perform any tests, and so on to be sure what is the reason, I would really appreciate it.
From looking on the task manager I see that my disk is always on 99% usage.
here are my specifications:

OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 @2.66ghz
RAM: 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @332mhz (5-5-5-15)
MB: ASUSTeK P5KPL-AM
GPU: Radeon RX 460 2048MB (Sapphire/PCPartner)
HDD: 232GB Western Digital WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0
PSU: Zalman 450W

PS: I'm not sure if this is the right category

 

[Ralston18]

Dig a bit deeper. I would expect some sort of error messages with a dying drive.

You have a number of diagnostic tools available:

Take a look at Resource Monitor, and Performance Monitor. You should be able to determine what application, process, or service is grabbing the disk usage and/or not releasing it.

Task Manager can help with that also: What "Name" is using the 99% drive? Is that name a necessary start item? If not remove that application, process, or service from start up.

Google the name if necessary to learn more about the offender. Then if it is not some system related process - stop it and see if the drive use returns to normal.

Of if it is a system related process then hopefully there is some viable configuration change or a downloadable fix.

First objective is to identify the application, process, or service causing the high drive usage.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there miker2808,

That is really unpleasant.

As you think that there's something wrong with your drive, it may be a good idea to back up the data stored on it.

Once you do that, you can test the drive with WD's DLG tool (both short and extended tests): http/products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=XKR6Ie

Keep in mind that there are multiple threads on 100% disk usage with Win 10. What happens when you boot into safe mode? Does the high disk usage persist?

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

 

[miker2808]

Dig a bit deeper. I would expect some sort of error messages with a dying drive.

You have a number of diagnostic tools available:

Take a look at Resource Monitor, and Performance Monitor. You should be able to determine what application, process, or service is grabbing the disk usage and/or not releasing it.

Task Manager can help with that also: What "Name" is using the 99% drive? Is that name a necessary start item? If not remove that application, process, or service from start up.

Google the name if necessary to learn more about the offender. Then if it is not some system related process - stop it and see if the drive use returns to normal.

Of if it is a system related process then hopefully there is some viable configuration change or a downloadable fix.

First objective is to identify the application, process, or service causing the high drive usage.

Hi there miker2808,

That is really unpleasant.

As you think that there's something wrong with your drive, it may be a good idea to back up the data stored on it.

Once you do that, you can test the drive with WD's DLG tool (both short and extended tests): http/products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=XKR6Ie

Keep in mind that there are multiple threads on 100% disk usage with Win 10. What happens when you boot into safe mode? Does the high disk usage persist?

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

Thanks for the response, I will dig deeper. and I havn't checked the disk usage in safe mod, but I can tell you for sure the computer was still lagging. once I enter the log-in screen.

 

[miker2808]

Dig a bit deeper. I would expect some sort of error messages with a dying drive.

You have a number of diagnostic tools available:

Take a look at Resource Monitor, and Performance Monitor. You should be able to determine what application, process, or service is grabbing the disk usage and/or not releasing it.

Task Manager can help with that also: What "Name" is using the 99% drive? Is that name a necessary start item? If not remove that application, process, or service from start up.

Google the name if necessary to learn more about the offender. Then if it is not some system related process - stop it and see if the drive use returns to normal.

Of if it is a system related process then hopefully there is some viable configuration change or a downloadable fix.

First objective is to identify the application, process, or service causing the high drive usage.

I've checked the task manager. and I am very confused. because for a short while yesterday my PC worked pretty fine. (sadly for a short time) and my disk usage was at 1-5 and max at 60 (maybe sometimes 90-100, but not as much as now)
and when I checked what is using the resources I saw that some softwares used up to 8mb/s of writing and my HDD was just at 60 percent. now I'm on 99-100 percent and the softwares use just about 1 mb/s (max 2) and its lagging like hell and the usage is at 100%.
I couldn't understand how to use the performance manager and the second monitor.
I've tried to check the WD diagnostics tool. and for a short scan I got a pass. havn't tried an extended scan yet.
with the information I've given, could you please predict what might be the cause of the problem. and further steps to analyze what is causing the issues.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Ralston18]

What can happen is that everything will be fine but then some combination of events causes reoccurence. Problems of that nature can be very difficult to troubleshoot.

Start your troubleshooting by using Resource Monitor.

Once opened Resource Monitor will show you some initial data and provide 5 tabs that you can select: Overview (probably the tab being presented), CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network.

Selecting the Disk tab presents three more groups of data: Processes with Disk Activity, Disk Activity, and Storage.

The information you are looking for is the name of some process or service with high read and write values. Likely to be listed under Disk Activity.

Going back a step, Task Manager will provide the same information albeit a bit differently. Look for a process or service with a high value of MB/s or otherwise some indication of high disk usage.

Right clicking a "Name" will open a window offering more details about that particular process... You may see "Go to Details" and/or "Properties".

There is no harm in looking. Just do not stop or disable some process without knowing exactly what it is and its overall purpose.

Your objective is to identify the software taking over disk usage. Everything else is then forced to wait and your system slows.

Once you know the source and nature of the problem then a solution can be sought. Maybe all you will need is a reinstall or update.

 

[miker2808]

What can happen is that everything will be fine but then some combination of events causes reoccurence. Problems of that nature can be very difficult to troubleshoot.

Start your troubleshooting by using Resource Monitor.

Once opened Resource Monitor will show you some initial data and provide 5 tabs that you can select: Overview (probably the tab being presented), CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network.

Selecting the Disk tab presents three more groups of data: Processes with Disk Activity, Disk Activity, and Storage.

The information you are looking for is the name of some process or service with high read and write values. Likely to be listed under Disk Activity.

Going back a step, Task Manager will provide the same information albeit a bit differently. Look for a process or service with a high value of MB/s or otherwise some indication of high disk usage.

Right clicking a "Name" will open a window offering more details about that particular process... You may see "Go to Details" and/or "Properties".

There is no harm in looking. Just do not stop or disable some process without knowing exactly what it is and its overall purpose.

Your objective is to identify the software taking over disk usage. Everything else is then forced to wait and your system slows.

Once you know the source and nature of the problem then a solution can be sought. Maybe all you will need is a reinstall or update.

I've tried it
I checked the task manager, usage on 99-100 percent. and its reading about 2mb/s max. and it is either steam or chrome (while my PC is lagging even without them being active, I disabled all startup items).
using the resource monitor, I saw the same. using some amount of data. and its just steam or chrome.
got nothing else.. and the PC is still lagging

 

[Ralston18]

Turn off (stop or disable) first Steam and then Chrome.

Identify which one is causing the problem. Or it could be that some conflict is ocurring between them. Either one is okay on its own but with both running they conflict or otherwise fail to release disk usage.

The order in which they start might make a difference.

Keep digging and use the tools. As you become more familar with the tools and data therein you may spot or find something else.

 

[miker2808]

Turn off (stop or disable) first Steam and then Chrome.

Identify which one is causing the problem. Or it could be that some conflict is ocurring between them. Either one is okay on its own but with both running they conflict or otherwise fail to release disk usage.

The order in which they start might make a difference.

Keep digging and use the tools. As you become more familar with the tools and data therein you may spot or find something else.

Yeah. I tried to check what is going on if chrome is on, and I found no difference..
but when I launched steam (with and without chrome) the disk usage jumped to 99% and didn't change a little.
also I ran an extended test with the WD tool and it passed the test.
do you have an solution to what I can do to solve the problem with steam? because it doesn't look like a reinstall will get the job done. but I will try reinstalling it anyway

 

[Ralston18]

The starting point is a reinstall.

Current installation may have been corrupted.

Bear in mind that some other software update or OS update may have initiated the problem. Could have been some automatic update.....

If a reinstall does not work then the next step is to visit the Steam FAQs and Forums. See if anyone else is reporting a similar problem.